Tourists ditching Ibiza holidays due to high hotel prices and ‘exclusive image’

Brits are abandoning the White Isle for cheaper holidays in Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia and Croatia

By Rita Sobot and Rosie Gizauskas

8th June 2018, 10:14 am

Updated: 8th June 2018, 11:32 am

HOTEL owners in Ibiza fear record-breaking tourist figures are over because the island has priced itself out of the market and gained a reputation as an "exclusive" resort.

The Hotel Federation of Ibiza and Formentera says sales for July and August are below other years due to competition from other destinations and the “fashionable” image that the island has cultivated for itself.

Hoteliers are worried that sales on rooms are down in Ibiza this year after several record-breaking years

They believe the main reason for the drop in sales is high prices on the island, coupled with the impact of Brexit and competition from other emerging destinations, such as Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey and Croatia.

Federation vice president Juanjo Planells told Diario de Ibiza: "There [are] still a lot [of hotel rooms] to sell for July and August and that did not happen in other years.

"The fact that we have sold the island as an exclusive destination in recent years is going to have its consequences.

"The European tourist with an average purchasing power is thinking twice before coming to the island. Now we have to share more of the cake."

They believe the main reason for the drop in sales is high prices on the island, coupled with the impact of Brexit and competition from other emerging destinations

Hoteliers expect the figures, which are due soon on occupancy for May (the first month of the season), to be down on 2017.

"We must be realistic, we come from years of breaking records and, as in any economic process, now it is normal for a period of recession to come. I think this year we will see declines."

President of the Association of Vacation Tourist Housing in Ibiza and Formentera, José Antonio Llano blamed "the high prices of a [fashionable] destination like Ibiza and the competition of other countries".

In past years it has also been hard to find cars to hire on the island.